Figure 2. My daughter Stephanie one week before giving birth to grandson James (nickname: Jet) and about three years ago.

Being a mom goes way, way backIn our lineage, first cells stuck together, flagella out (Fig. 3). Then four cells stuck together. Then eight. Ultimately hundreds stuck together creating a sphere, or blastula. And little blastulas formed inside until they were large enough to break free.

Figure 3. Blastula from the book, “From the Beginning” by Peters 1991.

Plesiosaurs and primates capable of understanding prehistory
followed shortly thereafter. The basics of being a mother haven’t really changed much in the last few billion years.